Bristol native Kendall Reiss has found her calling making jewelry, a Rhode Island art form of yesteryear that she's turned into a business called Kendall Reiss LLC.
Reiss, who earned her master's degree at Rhode Island School of Design, is a jack of many trades, and earns money teaching full time at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, while running the jewelry business and practicing art in Bristol.
"It's amazing," she said with a laugh, when asked what draws her to jewelry. "I've always had this creative way of looking at things, and interacting with things."
Her passion for working with material started while she was studying geology at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. After earning her undergraduate degree, Reiss met a mentor who introduced her to jewelry work. Drawn to the trade, she attended RISD for a continuing education course, eventually deciding to study for her master's degree.
"Jewelry tells a story about its wearer," she said. "I've always been fascinated by it. Each piece tells a different story."
Rhode Island has a long history in jewelry making. Reiss, a contemporary jeweler, repurposes a lot of old jewelry people want transformed into newer styles. Because of that work, she sees a lot of old, Rhode Island-made jewelry come into her studio, which adds another layer of storytelling and mystique to the trade, she says.
"It's fun because it has a history and connection to this place," she said.
Reiss is growing her burgeoning practice, offering commission-based work, one-on-one teaching and repurposing work, on top of creating original pieces and practicing other art forms. In February, the South Eastern Economic Development Corp. and BankFive made its first loan under the new R.I. Commerce Corp. small-business loan program, giving $56,000 to Kendall Reiss LLC.
Reiss is using the funds to buy and refurbish a small commercial building at 469 Wood St. in Bristol, across from her current studio, to expand her business.
"Kendall's work in jewelry, art and design are representative of what makes our community shine," Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor said in a statement. "We look forward to watching the business succeed."
The new space is under renovations, and Reiss hopes to open in May. She's hired a student to work with her, and hopes to hire a couple more employees as business progresses. Reiss envisions the new space, about 800 square feet, as a place where – in addition to her own work – people can come collaborate on work and create art.
Artwork and jewelry making, she says, is a tough business, but she's dedicated to it, and hopes one day the company will grow big enough to sustain her passion.
"This is the issue for artists these days. You can't necessarily make a living doing it," she said. "A lot of my colleagues and peers are balancing an immense amount of work. It's about trying to pursue what we love while also feeding ourselves and making a living." •